VA Second-Tier Entitlement or VA Bonus Entitlement

VA second-tier entitlement for a VA loan or Texas Vet loan, sometimes referred to as VA bonus entitlement, is an important feature of the VA home loan program. A veteran seeking a VA loan or Texas Vet loan for either a home purchase or a VA loan for a refinance might need to make use of second-tier entitlement under the following two circumstances.

The Veteran currently has an existing VA loan on another property that will not be paid in full.

It is possible to have more than one VA loan at the same time. If a veteran has an existing loan on the home they currently reside in, or a rental property they lived in previously, the first step is to look at how much entitlement is tied up with that loan. Essentially entitlement is the amount of the loan that the VA guaranteed on the mortgage.

The Veteran has a VA loan in the past that went into foreclosure or was included in a bankruptcy or short sale.

In the second case above, the VA would have suffered a loss on the prior VA loan, and part of the Veteran’s entitlement or eligibility is forfeited. The same thing applies as having an existing loan on another property, we need to determine how much entitlement was used on the previous loan. One major consideration is that with a prior foreclosure, bankruptcy or short sale, the veteran will likely have a two year waiting period before being eligible for another VA loan.

How to Calculate VA Second-Tier Entitlement for a Texas Vet or VA Bonus Entitlement

So here is an easy to understand example of how to calculate how much remaining entitlement would be available for a veteran who does not have their full entitlement. Let’s say that the original loan amount on the loan in question was $100,000 (whether open loan or a loan that the VA suffered a loss on). The VA would have guaranteed 25% of the original loan amount, which means the amount of entitlement used was $25,000.

The VA loan limit in the state of Texas for 2017 is $453,100. This means that a qualified Veteran with full entitlement can purchase a home using a VA loan or Texas Vet loan with zero down up to the 2017 VA loan limit, and the VA would guaranty 25% of the loan limit.

Determining How Much VA Second-Tier Entitlement is Available for a Second VA Loan

The math...

25% of $453,100 = $106,025 (this is the maximum amount of guaranty available from VA in 2017 with zero down).

$106,025 less $25,000 = $81,025 (maximum entitlement less amount of entitlement used on prior VA loan).

$81,025 (remaining available entitlement) times 4 = $324,100. This would be the maximum VA loan amount available (plus VA funding fee if applicable), with zero down for a VA loan or Texas Vet home loan. It is also important to note that due to VA second-tier entitlement rules, the minimum loan amount is $144,001. If the desired loan amount is less, 2nd tier entitlement cannot be used. If the maximum loan amount is less than needed, it may be possible for the Veteran to pay 25% of the difference and obtain a VA loan for more than the calculated maximum.

Summing it all up, getting the help from a VA lender that has experience with a VA bonus entitlement Loan is your best bet. Our VA loan and Texas Vet loan specialists can quickly determine remaining entitlement by obtaining a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) electronically, sometimes in a matter of minutes. We will also look at the other considerations in qualifying for a Texas Vet or VA home Loan, such as monthly income, credit history, debt ratios, etc.

Now that's service. Hold the pickles, please.

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If you would like assistance in calculating your second-tier entitlement for a Texas Vet or VA Mortgage, or you have other questions, please call 866-704-2826, or click on the button below and complete our quick-and-easy prequalification form. Our experienced VA lending specialists will be happy to assist you, no obligation.

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*APR calculated on a base loan amount of $300,000 and no VA Funding Fee.

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Consumers who would like to file a complaint against about a mortgage banker residential mortgage loan originator, may complete a complaint form and send to the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, 2601 North Lamar, Suite 201, Austin, TX 78705. Instructions and complaint forms can be found on the Department’s website at www.sml.texas.gov. The toll-free consumer hotline number is 1-877-276-5550. This department offers a recovery fund to reimburse certain actual out of pocket damages to borrowers as a result of acts by Licensed Mortgage Banker Residential Mortgage Loan Officers. Borrowers must submit a written application for reimbursement from the recovery fund which is filed with and investigated by the department before payment of any claim. For further information about the recovery fund, visit the Department’s website at www.sml.texas.gov.